Priya Narang, MS, focuses her blog on complex cataract surgery cases, new techniques and innovations, along with unique case reports.

BLOG: Hypersonic vitrectomy a newcomer in posterior segment surgery

December 8, 2017

Innovations in vitrectomy have revolutionized the way posterior segment surgeries are performed with additional potential benefit to anterior segment surgeons who tend to employ vitrectomy in complicated surgeries. Until recently, 27-gauge vitrectomy was considered the latest entrant in this arena. Now, however, hypersonic vitrectomy has come into the picture.

Hypersonic vitrectomy is performed with the Vitesse device (Bausch + Lomb), which uses ultrasonic power to actuate the vitrectomy probe where the tip of the device oscillates at 1.7 million cycles per minute, causing hypersonic liquefaction of the vitreous and aiding its removal. Paulo Stanga, MD, a professor of ophthalmology and retinal regeneration at the University of Manchester, and Amar Agarwal, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth, performed the first surgery in humans in July 2017 at Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital in India.

The attached video (courtesy of Dr. Agarwal) demonstrates the clinical application of hypersonic vitrectomy and its potential benefits.